Range



Aug. 24, 1943.

A. H.'BRODB ECK RANGE Filed July 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Zhwentor (Ittomeg Patented Aug. 24, 1943 RANGE Almer H. Brodbeck, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to American Stove Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of New Jersey A Application July 18, 1941, Serial No. 403,052

11 Claims.

This invention is directed to a range and more particularly to anovel and improved storage compartment associated with and constituting a part of said range.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a range having a storage compartment constructed in a manner wherebythe cost of production of the range is materially decreased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage compartment for a range constructed in a manner to permit it to be pulled out or extended with respect to the range body and thereby provide more convenient access to the interior of said compartment.

A still further object of the invention comprises simplifying and reducing the cost of replacement of the sides or front corners of the range in the event the same should be damaged in shipment or otherwise.

Other objects, novel features of construction and improved results will be pointed out in more detail in the following description and will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

- compartment.

In ranges as made today it is common practice to provide storage compartments or storage cabinets in which cooking utensils and like kitchen equipment can be stored in the range itself to be quickly available for use in the cook- 4 ing operations performed on the range.

Many ranges, like that illustrated in the drawings, are of the so-called divided working top type in which there is a substantilly centrally located cooking top section with working top sections at either side thereof and at opposite ends of the range. In the drawings the cooking top section lies beneath the lowered cover I and the working top surfaces 2 are at opposite sides thereof. It will be understood that the cover l is not an essential element but in the better ranges is provided as a means of concealing the cooking top when the same is not in use.

In a range of this type it is quite usual for the oven or ovens to be positioned in the range body immediately below the cooking top and such an 55 oven lies behind the upper door 3. In the better type of ranges two ovens are provided, one being a bakingand the other a broiling oven. A broiling oven is behindthe door 4 but whereonly a the bottom of the broiler oven 1 which lies behind the lower door 4. The outer common side walls of the two ovens extend vertically from the base top 6 and this being an insulated range the walls 8 and 9 are in spaced parallel relationship and the space between them is filled with some suitable insulating material In.

The cooking top burner chamber l I is disposed above the upper baking oven and its bottom wall I2 is supported upon the outermost walls 8 at the opposite sides of the oven. The baking oven top is insulated as at l3 from the cooking top burner chamber.

The side walls 8 and 9 of the ovens are inset a considerable distance from the side walls M of the base 5 and the cooking top burner chamber overhangs the top 6 of the range base so as to positionv the outer end walls l5 of the burner chamber in substantial vertical alignment with the side walls H of the range base. This construction provides at each side of the range a housing which is open at one of its sides and at its front and extends from the front to the back and from the base to the bottom of the cooking top burner chamber of the range. The cooking and work top It of the range is disposed in separated parallel relationship to the bottom I 2 of the burner chamber and in conformity with the 0 usual practice a splash back ll extends completely across the rear end of the range.

The storage compartment is designated as an entirety by A. In the drawings identical storage compartments A are illustrated as being disposed at opposite ends of the range. It is to be understood however that where smaller ranges are desired the same could be provided by eliminating the storage compartment and table top'working surfaces at either end of the range to provide a range having a storage compartment and table top working surface at either the .left or right side or end of the range.

The storage compartment comprises a front. IB, a side Wall l9 and a-series of spaced horizontally disposed shelves or pockets 20 suitably secured,

single combination baking and broiling oven is provided the door 4 can constitute a closure for as for instance by welding, to the front and side walls of the compartment as well as to a vertical space 25 while the range base has a step-like portion 26 to provide a space 21. The spaces and 21 constitute channelways extending from front to back of the cooking top burner box and range base respectively.

A roller 28 is rotatably mounted adjacent the front end of the channelway 25 on the end wall portion 24 of the cooking top burnerchamber. A similar roller is mounted on the end wall 24 of the cooking top burner chamber adjacent its rear end and within said channelway to support the rear end of the compartment. A roller 30 is supported from the bottom 3| of the lowermost pocket or shelf 20 for free rotation and a roller 32 is rotatably supported upon a bracket 33 which extends upwardly from the range base top 5. This bracket and roller are positioned closely adjacent the innermost side edge of the lower pocket or shelf 20 and beneath the same.

Adjacent its upper edge or end and at the inner side thereof the side wall I9 of the storage compartment is provided with a bracket-like member 34 which extends throughout the length of the top edge of said side wall. Said bracket at its top has a horizontally disposed portion 35 above and resting upon the front and rear rollers 28 and also a downwardly bent inner edge 36 which lies at the inner sides of the rollers 28 and thus provides an overhead trackway with the edge 36 providing a flange at the inner side of said trackway. Beneath the rollers there is a trackway, 31 having a flange 38 positioned at the outer sides of the rollers. These flanges 36 and 3B prevent the upper end of the storage compartment from moving any appreciable distance in a direction transverse the trackway 31.

A bracket 39 extends throughout substantially the entire depth of the base top 5 and at its upper end is provided with a trackway at overhanging the roller 39 and provided with a flange M disposed at the outer side of the roller .38. The under side of the bottom 3i of the lowermost pocket or shelf is provided with a trackway 42 which is of an inverted U-shape in cross sectional configuration and overhangs the roller 32 which roller is positioned closely adjacent the front edge of the base top plate ii as clearly appears in'Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The front l8'of the storage compartment is provided with a handle 43 and it will be understood that the range user may grasp this handle and readily pull the storage compartment forwardly beyond the front face of the range, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and after inserting or removing from the pockets or shelves thereof the desired utensil or implement can push the compartment back into the range body in the position illustrated at the right hand end of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The reciprocable compartment is adequately supported upon the several rollers through engagement therewith of the respective trackways. Clearance between the compartment and the range base and range top assures free movement of the compartment without danger of binding and adequate clearance 44 is provided between the inner ends of the pockets or shelves and the side wall 8 of the ovens. The trackways additionally guide the movement of the storage compartment in a straight line and prevent the compartment from moving outwardly from the range body in a direction transverse the width of the range.

When a range with double storage compartment such as that illustrated in the drawings is provided the two compartments will be identical in construction so far as concerns the manner of support thereof but obviously should it be desirable a different arrangement of pockets or shelves could be provided.

In a range of this type the storage compartment is quite narrow but of considerable depth and when constructed in the usual manner, that is, with shelves fixed to and supported by the range oven side walls 8 and a fixed and immovable outer range wall where the present compartment wall I9 is positioned andis made accessible through a door in the position occupied by the present compartment front l8 it is quite difficult and unhandy to reach utensils or implements that are positioned toward the rear ends of the pockets or shelves. With the present con struction when the compartment is in its extended position the pockets or shelves are readily accessible throughout their entire lengths and thus the range operator can make the most efhcient use of the storage space as the space will be conveniently available.

The front and side walls of the compartment in one piece provide a range end wall and a range front panel adjacent the range end. This makes a range which is cheaper of construction than the conventional range and in the event either the end wall or front wall of the range adjacent its ends is damaged in shipment, as is often the case, these walls or parts can be easily and quickly replaced by the local range or stove dealer. Additionally the joint between the range front and end wall panels of the convenional range are eliminated which provides a construction which is neat and pleasing of appearance and also contributes to the reduction in cost of manufacture of the range.

The strength and rigidity of the range is in the range base and top made up of the cookin top burner chamber which members or parts extend beyond the outer side walls of the ovens at one end or at both ends of the range in accordance with whether the range is provided with compartments at one end or both ends of the range.

It will be observed that the front and side walls i8 and IQ of the storage compartment combine to provide a wall which is L-shaped in cross sectional configuration.

The range cost is reduced by simplification of construction and the reduction of number of parts over a similar range in which fixed storage confiartments and fixed range end walls are provi e As an example of a modified interior arrangement for the storage compartment reference is made to Fig. 3 of the drawings in which only a single lower pocket or compartment 20 is provided and at its top the compartment is provided with a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending bracket 48 having therein substantially throughout its length a slot 41 inwhich are slidably supported a plurality of hook 48 which provide a convenient adjustable supporting means upon which to hang various utensils, cutlery or other cooking or kitchen implements.

Inasmuch as in all other respects the modified storage compartment is similar to that previously described further description is unnecessary.

The thickness of the front is of the storage compartment is identical with that of the oven or compartment doors 3 and 4 so as to provide a range having a flush or flat front which is not only pleasing in appearance but which can be easily wiped and kept in clean condition.

Modifications of the specific arrangement can be made without departing from the inventive concept and the invention is to be limited only within the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a range or the like, a base, a cabinet provided with a top and positioned on said base, said range base and cabinet top extendin beyond said cabinet at one side thereof to provide a housing which is open at its front and at one side, a storage compartment in said housing, said compartment having a vertically disposed side Wall and a vertically disposed front wall, said walls forming a closure for the side and front respectively of said housing and constituting an end and a portion of the front wall of the range, and said compartment being movably supported on said range structure for movement outwardly and inwardly with respect to said housing.

2. In a range or the like, a base, a cabinet provided with a top and positioned on said base, said range base and cabinet top extending beyond said cabinet at one side thereof to provide a housing which is open at its front and at one side, a storage compartment in said housing, said compartment having a vertically disposed side wall and a vertically disposed front wall, said walls forming a closure for the side and front respectively of said housing and constituting an end and a portion of the front wall of the range, said cabinet top at its under side and within said housing being provided at points adjacent the front and rear ends of said housing with supports, said compartment side wall adjacent its upper end being provided with means adapted to engage said sup ports, said compartment support engaging means being movable over said supports, and handle means exterior of said compartment by which said compartment may be moved outwardly and inwardly with respect to said housing.

3. In a range or the like, a base, a cabinet provided with a top and positioned on said base, said range base and cabinet top extending beyond said cabinet at one side thereof to provide a housing which is open at its front and at one side, a storage compartment in said housing, said compartment having a Vertically disposed side wall and a vertically disposed front wall, said walls forming a closure for the side and front respectively of saidhousing and constituting an end and a portion of the front wall of the range, said range cabinet top at its under side and within said housing being provided with a plurality of rollers positioned in spaced relationship in a direction from the front towards the back of said housing, and said compartment at its upper end being provided with a trackway engaging said rollers and supporting said compartment for movement outwardly and inwardly with respect to said housing. v

4. IA construction such as defined in claim 3 wherein, said range base on its upper face and Within said housing is provided with a roller, a trackway carried by said compartment engages the top of said roller for additionally supporting said compartment, and said trackways guides said compartment in its outward and inward movements and prevent any substantial movement of said compartment in a direction transverse said housing.

5. A construction as defined in claim 2 wherein, said housing and storage compartment are comparatively deep and narrow, said storage compartment having a plurality of shelves, and said storage compartment having no inner side wall, whereby when said compartment is moved outwardly from said housing convenient access to said compartment shelves is had through the open inner side of said compartment.

6. A construction such as defined in claim 2 wherein, the outer side Wall of said compartment is in substantially the same vertical plane as the ends of the cabinet topand range base and the front wall of said compartment is substantially in the same vertical plane as the front of said cabinet when said compartment is within said housing to thereby provide a substantially flush ended and fronted range. v

'7. In a range or the like, a substantially c0- extensive range base and range top, a range rear wall interconnecting the rear ends of said base and top, a cabinet positioned between said base and top but of less width than the length of said base or top to provide housings having open fronts and sides at each end of said range, a storage compartment for each of said housings, each of said compartments comprising a vertically disposed end wall and a vertically disposed front wall interconnected at one of their vertical edges, said housing walls forming a closure for the side .and front respectively of each of said housings,

and each of said compartments being slidably supported on said range structure for movement outwardly and inwardly with respect to its respective housing.

8. In a range or the like, a cabinet having at one side thereof a housing having a top, a bottom and a rear wall and open at its front and side, a storage compartment within said housing and having only a front and an outer side wall, said compartment front and side walls constituting closures for the front and side respectively of said housing, the front wall of said compartment when the. compartment is within said housing lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the front of the cabinet, and said compartment being slidably supported on said range structure for movement outwardly and inwardly with respect to said housing.

9. In a range or the like, a base, a cabinet.

provided with a top and positioned on said base, said range base and cabinet top extending beyond 'said cabinet at one side thereof to provide a housing which is open at its front and at its side, a storage compartment in said housing, said compartment having a vertically disposed side wall and a vertically disposed front wall which when the compartment is within said housing form a closure for the side and front respectively of said housing and constitute an end and a portion of the front wall of the range, said range cabinet top at its under side and within said housing being provided with a plurality of rollers positioned in said housing and in spaced relationship along the open side of said housing, said base provided with a trackway positioned in said housing and extending from front .to rear thereof adjacent the open side of said housing, said compartment at its upper end being provided with a trackway extending from front to rear of the side wail of the compartment and engaging the rollers carried by the cabinet top and supporting said compartment for movement into and out of said housing, and said compartment adjacent its lower end provided with a roller having engazement with said base carried trackway.

10. A construction such as defined in claim 9 wherein. said base carries a roller which is positioned within said housing at a point adJacent the inner side wall of said housing. and said compartment carries a trackway which engages and is supported upon said last named roller.

11. In a range, a base having a cabinet thereon, a range top covering said cabinet, said base and range top extending a substantial distance beyond one side wall or said cabinet and forming a housing open at its front, rear and one side.

said range having a back extending across and closing the rear of said housing, a storage compartment slidabiy supported in said housing, means for moving the compartment into and out of the front 01 said housing, said compartment comprising a side wall and a front wall, the heights and breadths of said side and front walls being such as to close the side and front openings of said housing when the compartment is moved to its innermost position, means to guide said compartment in its movement and to prevent the compartment from moving in a direction transverse the width of the housing, and article supporting means mounted on the inner side of and movable with the compartment.

Am H. BRJODBECK. 

